The Pentagon announced Wednesday that Air Force Under Secretary Matt Donovan will become the service’s acting secretary beginning June 1, a DOD press release said.

Donovan, a former F-15 pilot who was confirmed as under secretary in August 2017, will replace current Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson who is stepping down to become president of the University of Texas at El Paso.

Prior to his confirmation as under secretary, Donovan served as policy director for the Senate Armed Services Committee under then-Chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Wilson, an Air Force veteran and former Republican congresswoman from New Mexico, became secretary in May 2017.

“In her two years as secretary, Heather defined the Air Force the nation needs and made incredible progress in implementing the strategy to get us there,” Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said in a statement. “It is fitting that a key member of her leadership team will assume her role to keep the momentum going. Matt will do a fantastic job.”